To get you started, weve put together a list of 20 surefire conversation starters, ranging from the best contemporary literature to historical fiction, memoirs, and history. That the young penobscot girl, and 91 year old woman orphan train rider living on the coast of maine could weave such a tale of friendship, as they both work through questions of life and destiny, was a joy to see unfold. She has developed public outreach programs for the orphan train heritage society of america, inc. Here are a few top book club selections and coordinating menus that are sure to add a new depth of flavor to your discussions. Youre introduced to molly, and her struggles in the. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Kline has written six other novels orphan train, orphan train girl, the way life should be, sweet water, bird in hand, and desire lines and written or edited five works of nonfiction.
Orphan train girl by christina baker kline, paperback. The kind of group sarah and tom would have traveled west with. This 38page guide for orphan train by christina baker kline includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 parts, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. You want books that are thoughtprovoking and intelligent but still approachable. Youre introduced to molly, and her struggles in the foster care system, the law, and trying to find hope. Molly, quietly introspective, is performing community service, assigned surprisingly for trying to steal a battered paperback from the public library. Her first book for houghton mifflin, orphan train rider, won the 1996 boston globe horn book award for nonfiction. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including orphan train. She declares that all of the people who have been central in her life are ghosts, including her true love, whom she lost when she was 23 years old, and her sister, maisie. In a young readers version of klines orphan train 20, sixthgrader molly, a foster child on the coast of maine, helps an elderly woman, vivian, sort through boxes of keepsakes in her attic. Its dorothys birthday, shes living with the miserable, dysfunctional grote family and her teacher the only person who seems to care about her surprises her with a birthday treat.
National orphan train complex 300 washington st, concordia, kansas 66901 rated 4. Orphan train by christina baker kline i remember at the age of 10 or so reading a novel about the late19th and early 20thcentury orphan trains, which took children and babies from east coast slums and brought them to the midwest, where they were given an opportunity for a potentially prosperous new life in the fresh rural air. Orphan train recipes for book clubs tosas allcity read. Orphan train by christina baker kline between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck.
In the prologue vivian mentions that her true love died when she was 23, but she doesnt mention the other big secret in the book. But in interviews, and on her blog, kline says one of the major themes she wanted to tackle. The girl who wrote in silk is for book clubs who loved. Christina has longed to write a scene in which she clarifies vivians motivations. The treatment these children received by the loving families that took them in is another hot talking point, as is the flawed practice that transports the orphans to the mid west. Molly molasses was molly ayers nickname in the orphan train. Although this particular story of molly and vivian is fictional, the orphan trains were real, and a piece of history i had never heard of. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the country. Orphan train tackles some pretty heavy themes, such as finding family and figuring out your identity. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. Orphan train book club ideas part 2 delicious reads. This study guide consists of approximately 42 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of orphan train. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. When her entire family is killed in a fire in 1929, nineyearold niamh is turned over to a childrens charity and put on an orphan train, sent to minnesota in the hopes of finding a new home.
After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Orphan train is a good read for those that want a bit of bittersweet storytelling. Obviously the foster care system of the 1900s and that of today will come up. Orphan train will hold you in its grip as their fascinating tales unfold.
Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Choosing a book for your book club to read can be challenging. She has been a professional writer for twenty years and works from her home office in the kansas city area. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book. Read the need one great snack for my book club discussion from the chowhound home cooking, snack food community. Atonement, ian mcewan serve high tea and transport your book group to prewwii england and the large country estate of the tallis family. Apr 02, 20 orphan train by christina baker kline between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck.
Jan 21, 2017 explore cynthiadavis102s board orphan train, followed by 180 people on. A combination of wholewheat and allpurpose flour also can be used. A selection for the 2016 prestwick house summer reading book club. Take our free orphan train quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge.
These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose. Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. An orphan train story, is a dickensian novella about cultural identity and family history set during the nineteenth century, at a time when america received an enormous influx of immigrants, and a quarter of a million children whose fates would be determined by pure luck were sent west from east coast cities by orphan train.
Books similar to orphan train meet your next favorite book. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. After some time, vivian asks molly to help her find her daughter, and molly helps vivian sign up with an adoption registry. With mollys support, vivian decides to get a computer and reconnect with people from her past, particularly from the orphan train. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 have you read this incredible story about our history in america. Vivians journey west was aboard an orphan train, a bit of misguided 1900sera social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into midwest families. I had no idea that this happened with orphans in america. Andrea warrens books about children are the result of her passion for history and her interest in young readers. There is the theme of foster care, adoption, family history, unexpected relationships, inhumane acts of violence and of course the train that took children from large cities to be adopted by families in the midwest to be more like indentured servants then a part of a new family. Storiesorphan traini choose lifemoral storiesbook club books. Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of.
Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. That the young penobscot girl, and 91 year old woman orphantrain rider living on the coast of maine could weave such a tale of friendship, as they both work through questions of life and destiny, was a joy to see unfold. Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who, as the result of spending time together and sharing their experiences, form a bond, learn from each other, and change in significant ways. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed. Some of the food ideas are from the book like the terrys famous chowder but most of this book took place during the great depression so food was scarce and there was no way i was. Here is a book that was a joy from begining to end. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. In chapters of alternating perspectives, this novel about memory, possibility, and transformation. The orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century. On the train, niamh befriends dutchy, a twelveyearold boy, and takes care of carmine, a toddler.
Just before dutchy goes home with a farmer in minneapolis, minnesota, he and niamh promise to find each other again someday. Orphan train book book club food unexpected relationships book club parties books to read my books train food library books the incredibles. Goodreads members who liked orphan train also liked. May 23, 2014 information about orphan trains and the book, orphan train by christina baker kline. Since the publication of her smash international bestseller orphan train, christina baker kline has met with countless readers and book clubs and is often asked the same question about a key decision one of her protagonists makes in orphan train. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. Like molly, though, niamhs road to a loving home is anything but easy. A lot of the women in this group liked the book along with our strong male contingency of one but not as much as i did. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked her about the novel. Prologue page 3 summary the novel begins with 91 yearold vivians first person narration. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms.
Rich in detail and epic in scope, orphan train by christina baker kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 book club books. Orphan train is an unforgettable story, at times disturbing and painful, at other times hopeful and redemptive. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. See more ideas about yummy food, food and food recipes. Any, or all, of these recipes would be suitable for the book club that focuses on dessert. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts.
Dec, 2016 since the publication of her smash international bestseller orphan train, christina baker kline has met with countless readers and book clubs and is often asked the same question about a key decision one of her protagonists makes in orphan train. Orphan train hemingford county, minnesota, 1930 hemingford, minnesota, 1930 quiz orphan train hemingford, minnesota, 19301931 minneapolis, minnesota, 1939 quiz orphan train hemingford, minnesota, 19401943 spruce harbor, maine, 2011 quiz. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. Miss larsen smiles, handing me a slice of currant bread.
Cathy marie buchanan, nyt bestselling author of the day the falls stood still and the painted girls i loved this book. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 delicious reads. Find books like orphan train from the worlds largest community of readers. They take niamh to the childrens aid society, and the agency sends niamh out to the midwest on an orphan train. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. In 2011, eighty years after she was shipped west on an orphan train, vivian daly meets the seventeenyearold foster child, molly ayer. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan train book and orphan. Before the discussion began we were told to pick a picture from the. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
Orphan train by christina baker kline teen book ratings and. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday. Need one great snack for my book club home cooking snack. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes.
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